The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-31
Captain Suffers Nuggets.
Washington Critic.

Washington Critic.
General w. T. Sherman has boon
prominently identified with matters
affecting the worlds history independ-
emit OF his brilliant military career in
the Civil War. He drew up the first
official report to the Government ofthe
United States OF the discovery OF gold
in California. Gold was discovered in
the Spring OF 1SiS about go miles
above the present city fSacramento-
General Mason was at that time in
command OF the United States forces
in California and acted as military
Governor, with headquarters at
Monterey, the capital OF the Territory
General Sherman, then % young Lieu
tenant OF the Third Artillery, was the
Adjutant OF General Mason's staff.
Yerba Buena, now the great city OF
San Francisco, was but a undertaking
port OF 400 native inhabitants. As
soon as gold was discovered Captain
Suffer went down to Monterey with o
quantity OF samples OF the precious
me tai for the inspection OF the mill
tary authorities.
General Sherman in q conversation
with some friends few evenings since,
referred to this important historical
event substantially as follows;
Captain Suffer brought into General
Mason's office several small packages
OF samples and spread them out before
us. The specimens presented varieG
in size from fish scales and split peass
up to the size OF beans. General
Mason asked if knew how to test
whether this stuff was gold or not. I
said certainly, and Immediately tried
my teeth on u lump and made an in
dentation, which impressed me that
it was malleable | then sent for
hammer and an axe and pounded sew
eral pieces out fiat. THIS was p
crude but practical test. but we then
applied acids, which verified the fact
that the samples were GenuinegOld. 1
was Mt once sent up to the dlgglnc5
AMI made u thorough examination
OF the gold discoveries which werelap-
idly being found in new localities and in
wonderful amounts. | retured TO Mon
terey with quantity OF specimen
samples and drew up the official re-
port to the Government, which was
signed by General Mason. This re.
port, accompanied by II quantity OF
samples OF gold, was forwarded by "a
special bearer OF dispatches, who was
no other than Henry d. Cooke, re-
gently the first Governor OF this Dis
trict OF Columbia. He was sent off
in a small vessel with instructions to-
intercept n British steamer on the
Southern Coast and make rapid tran
sit to Washington, regardless OF ex-
pense. We had not then been advised
of the ratification of the treaty WITH
Mexico, cedipg California to the
United States, and were necessarily
very anxious that the Government
should possess information OF the
gold at the earliest moment.
Thus, less than forty years ago, "Old
Tecumseh's" teeth made the first OIL
cial impress, put the first Governments
stamp OF value on the gold delved from
the mines OF this modern land of
0phr And it is a fair presumption
that more than half OF the so, 600, 900
inhabitants of this Republic, who arc
enjoying its wonderful prosperity, re-
sulting largely from the discovery OF
gold in California, has baen born since
General Sherman indented the first
gold specimen with his teeth.